Veteran chief handed away on Wednesday 94 hours Go away behind a legacy that get together leaders say remembered for a very long time.
Mosina Kidwai comes from a conservative and aristocratic Muslim household in Awadh and received three consecutive Sabah state elections in 1978, 1980 and 1984.
Senior Congress chief and Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla recalled Kidwai’s robust affect within the get together and stated she was revered throughout numerous generations within the get together.
He stated he noticed what occurs between his days as a journalist and later working along with her. Child Y he was one of many few leaders loved Full belief of the Gandhi household. “Mohshina Ji’s stature was such that the Gandhi household at all times spoke extremely of her,” Shukla informed ThePrint, highlighting how Indira Gandhi campaigned for her whereas strolling the streets throughout elections.
Even after Indira Gandhi left energy, Kidwai’s political life remained carefully tied to her household. Rajiv Gandhi inducted her into his cupboard and assigned her key areas similar to well being and household welfare, transport and tourism.
Over the following few years, Sonia Gandhi facilitated her entry into the Rajya Sabha in 2004 and once more in 2004. 2010, Strengthen her place inside the get together.
Even on this era managementstated Shukla shared a deep bond along with her. “Rahul character And Priyanka character I actually revered her and regarded her like a mom determine to me,” he informed ThePrint.
For Shukla, Kidwai represents a uncommon continuity in Congress politics, along with his affiliation with the get together stretching from the Nehru period to the Rahul Gandhi period, and few leaders have embodied the bridge that spans generations.
Shukla described her as a “true nationalist”. Shukla recalled that Kidwai’s older brother Salahuddin Ahmad was the choice committee chairman for the Pakistan cricket group from 2007 to 2008, and that he at all times supported the Indian group at any time when the 2 international locations performed towards one another.
“We joked about it typically and she or he at all times stated, ‘I assist the Indian cricket group.’
Pramod Tiwari, a Congress chief and Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh, recalled the political reminiscences he shared with Mohshina Kidwai over the a long time.
“My earliest reminiscences return to after I was in Class 8 within the Sixties, when Mohsina Ji was contesting the MLC elections,” he stated in an interview with ThePrint.
“I noticed her deal with rallies in each Hindi and Urdu, and she or he was a unprecedented orator.”
“My second reminiscence is after I entered politics in Pratapgarh. She was then the Uttar Pradesh Congress president.” At any time when I wanted recommendation, I’d go to her dwelling. She valued all of the junior leaders and that was her true greatness. ”
Tiwari added that by the point he turned an MLA in 1980, Kidwai had moved to Delhi to take a much bigger position in nationwide politics, however they remained in common contact. “All MPs knew that she was in direct contact with the Gandhi household,” he added.
Additionally learn: Mohsina Kidwai was the voice of purpose in Parliament. the get together ought to have adopted her recommendation
politician household
Mohshina Kidwai was born in 1932 in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, and married right into a distinguished political household from the Awadh area. Her father-in-law, Jameel-ur-Rahman Kidwai, was a distinguished Congress chief in Uttar Pradesh from the Forties to the Sixties and performed a key position in shaping her early political journey.
Rashid Kidwai, writer ofMy life in Indian politics‘, format as acknowledged I recall that the e book about Mohsina Kidwai was as follows. prime minister Nehru inspired their entry into public life. “Mosina character She as soon as informed me that Mr. Nehru visited her home to fulfill her father-in-law and recommended that she be part of politics. ” informed ThePrint.
Rashid Kidwai highlighted his political acumen and pointed to his position within the 2022 Congress presidential elections, being one of many proponents of Shashi Tharoor’s candidacy. At a time when many get together leaders had been reluctant to assist Tharoor, she campaigned by emphasizing her perception in inside democracy. he Mentioned. Mr. Tharoor misplaced the vote to Mr. Mallikarjun Kharji.
Rashid additionally cited the instance of the Nineteen Nineties, when tensions had been excessive between Pranab Mukherjee and Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. “Mosina character “I wrote to the then chief minister PV Narasimha Rao, saying she understood Mamata’s significance to the Congress and urged her to intervene and resolve the variations,” he stated.
I’ll miss the knowledge and steerage of Mohsina Kidwai Ji. She was a pioneer of her time. As one of many few girls PCC presidents in UP, she traveled to each nook of the state and constructed lasting relationships with Congress officers in every district.
Her braveness and ideas…
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 8, 2026
Banerjee later cut up from the get together and shaped her personal Trinamool Congress, nevertheless it dealt a significant blow to the state Congress. “Look, it’s a imaginative and prescient of Mohsina.” character”Kidwai added.
He highlighted that Mohsina Kidwai was additionally one of many senior leaders who satisfied Sonia Gandhi to formally enter politics within the late Nineteen Nineties, recognizing the necessity for management at a important juncture for the get together.
Mohsina Kidwai’s ties with the Uttar Pradesh Congress are deep, with leaders recognizing her as a key drive within the Uttar Pradesh Congress. Social gathering’s state headquarters arrives in Lucknow 1974.
“Moshinaj has been mobilized.” chanda To attain this, (donations) from folks from completely different sectors of society. She has resolved the long-standing demand amongst UP Congress leaders to construct a big headquarters in Lucknow,” Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi informed ThePrint.
Awasthi described her as “one of many tallest leaders of the UP Congress”, including that her stature is unparalleled within the state.
Lively in politics till 2024
Even after retiring from the Rajya Sabha, she remained actively concerned in organizational actions. Recalling that he was a part of the get together’s central election committee in the course of the Himachal Pradesh elections, Rajiv Shukla emphasised that he remained concerned within the election marketing campaign. politics till fairly late in her life.
Anshu Awasthi additionally recalled assembly her at a e book launch occasion in Lucknow in 2022. “She was eager to inquire in regards to the state of Congress in Uttar Pradesh and what could possibly be performed to enhance it,” it stated, stressing that she remained concerned in get together affairs.
One other UP get together chief highlighted her simplicity, declaring that she constructed her first home after retiring from India’s Rajya Sabha in 2016. “Until then, she didn’t personal a non-public home anyplace within the nation. At a time when many politicians’ households had been actively concerned, even their youngsters stayed away from politics. That displays the character of Mohsina.” character “It was,” he stated.
Congress normal secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra additionally paid tribute to Mohsina Kidwai and stated the get together will significantly miss her management. “She was a pioneer of her time. As one of many few girls PCC presidents in Uttar Pradesh, she traveled to each nook of the state and solid lasting relationships with Congress employees throughout districts,” she wrote in X.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi praised her lifelong contribution to the get together and nationwide life.
“I’m very saddened by the passing away of former Union Minister and former MP Mohsina Kidwai Ji. She was a really senior and constant chief of the Congress Social gathering and her life was an instance of public service,” Gandhi stated in a put up on X.
“Via her simplicity, grace, and dignified political success, she impressed generations of ladies throughout the nation. Presently of disappointment, I lengthen my deepest condolences to her household and supporters.”
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Additionally learn: Mohsina Kidwai’s e book launch was about Shashi Tharoor and Congress fanzine
